The Witch's Code of Conduct

My advice for a spiritual path with no guidebook.

Good morning, my lovely.

First of all, I wanted to say a huge **thank you** to everyone who responded to my Imbolc newsletter. There’s been an incredible influx of you here at The Green Witch and I just want to tell you how grateful I am that you are here. I hope you had a beautiful Imbolc last weekend 💛

I celebrated with a very dear friend of mine:

A ritual, song, poetry, Tarot and intention setting followed by butternut chilli and homemade orange and almond cake. It doesn’t get better than this!

This week, I wanted to acknowledge the need for enchantment in 2025.

Morning rituals, starlit walks, finding patterns in the frost, seeing a long-lost friend in the eye of a robin.

As a collective, we are craving a deep immersion in the magick of the wildwood. Right now, even I - a seasoned witch - want to take myself off to the trees and tip my toes into a crisp fairy pool. It is no wonder that the popularity of witchcraft continues to rise.

I recently read

Katherine May

’s Enchantment and felt like my brain fell through a ripple of universal consciousness. I suddenly remembered the days in my teens and early 20s when I would carry a notebook and record all the beauty I witnessed. These notebooks were my way of peeling back the bark of the world and seeing the light that danced below. Pages and pages of left-slanting cursive that revealed to me the poetry of nature. I put May’s book down and immediately re-made my Pagan altar that had been sitting neglected and spider-ridden for months. The magickal portion of my brain had been replenished.

With so many people re-finding the magick of the world, I wanted to write about the “rules” - or rather the unspoken ethical etiquette - of witchcraft.

Rules? What rules?

For me, witchcraft has always been a positive path that allows me to:

• protect my energy

• find clarity when my road gets blocked

• seek healing on a physical, mental and spiritual level

• connect more deeply with the natural world

NOTE: As a community, witches are transitioning away from using the terms “black” and “white” magick. Those terms are not useful in 2025 for obvious reasons and we now widely use “positive” and “negative” magick.

These positive qualities (along with the fact that you can choose to worship goddesses instead of gods if you wish. Mindblowing!) were some of the main draws to the craft for me. When I was 12-13, having been raised as a strict Christian, witchcraft and Paganism felt so person-led and freeing. Witchcraft isn’t about strict rules and rigid laws that we often see in other spiritual paths; it’s a deeply personal practice that evolves with the practitioner’s personal inclinations. However, there are some pieces of guidance that many witches follow, not because they have to, but because they help to create a more ethical, respectful and balanced (less chaotic!) practice.

Personally, I do not use witchcraft to practise negative magick - although there are those who do, and that is what works for them. However, sometimes magick has a morally ambiguous grey area that is very easy to dip our toe into during times of need, panic or pain.

A wonderful read after you’ve finished The Wheel!

Having a witchcraft code of conduct and morals can be helpful to keep us on the path that is most beneficial to us in the long run and keep unwanted energies at bay. It can also help us give back to the nature around us.

Here is the advice I abide by in my own practice. I hope it can be helpful for you too.

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The magickal code of conduct

1. The Threefold Law

I followed the Wiccan path throughout my teenage years and chanted “The Wiccan Rede” under my breath on school lunch breaks. This poem on magickal ethics was written by famed witch Doreen Valiente in the 1960s – not exactly an ancient treatise on the morality of magick but it does display clearly the idea of the Threefold Law.

The Threefold Law is the premise that whatever energy you put out into the world - be it positive or negative - returns to you threefold. Cast a good luck spell for a friend on their birthday? That goodness is coming back to you, baby! Hex your ex? Likewise… Some witches (like myself) take this literally, while others see it as a reminder to be mindful of their actions. Even if you don’t subscribe to the Threefold Law itself, it’s always good practice to be intentional with your magick. Do you want to send out kindness, healing and abundance? Or do you want to deal with the mess that comes from sending out harm or mega “ick” energy? Energy moves in cycles, so it’s always good to remember whatever you pour into the world will find its way back to you.

You can read the full Wiccan (or Witches’) Rede below and see what resonates with you:

Bide the Wiccan laws ye must,
in perfect love and perfect trust.
Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give.
Cast the Circle thrice about
to keep the evil spirits out.

To bind the spell every time,
let the spell be spake in rhyme.
Soft of eye and light of touch,
speak little, listen much.
Deosil go by the waxing Moon,
sing and dance the Wiccan rune.
Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,
and the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.

When the Lady's Moon is new,
kiss thy hand to Her times two.
When the Moon rides at Her peak
then your heart's desire seek.
Heed the Northwind's mighty gale;
lock the door and drop the sail.

When the wind comes from the South,
love will kiss thee on the mouth.
When the wind blows from the East,
expect the new and set the feast.
When the West wind blows o'er thee,
departed spirits restless be.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go,
burn them quick a' burn them slow.
Elder be ye Lady's tree;
burn it not or cursed ye'll be.
When the Wheel begins to turn,
let the Beltane fires burn.
When the Wheel has turned at Yule,
light the log and let Pan rule.

Heed ye flower bush and tree,
by the Lady Bless'd Be.
Where the rippling waters go
cast a stone and truth ye'll know.
When find that ye have need,
hearken not to others' greed.
With the fool no season spend
or be counted as his friend.

Merry meet and merry part,
bright the cheeks and warm the heart.
Mind the Threefold Law ye should,
three times bad and three times good.
When misfortune is enow,
wear the Blue Star on thy brow.
True in love ever be
unless thy lover's false to thee.
Eight words ye Wiccan Rede fulfill:
An' it harm none, do what ye will.

2. Follow the Countryside Code

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about the concept of “treading lightly” on the Earth: the idea that, as stewards of the land, humanity’s only influence on the landscape should be a positive one.

In the UK, we have a rulebook called The Countryside Code that should be followed by anyone spending time walking, picnicking or exploring in the countryside (although, as a countryside dweller, I see this ignored a lot of the time). The Code includes the following rules:

Respect everyone

• be considerate to those living in, working in and enjoying the countryside

• leave gates and property as you find them

• do not block access to gateways or driveways when parking

• be nice, say hello, share the space

• follow local signs and keep to marked paths unless wider access is available

Protect the environment

• take your litter home – leave no trace of your visit

• do not light fires and only have BBQs where signs say you can

• always keep dogs under control and in sight (and always bag and bin any dog waste)

• care for nature – do not cause damage or disturbance

It’s a code that I think absolutely applies to your witchcraft practice - not just in the countryside, but in your garden and local parks too. Nature is a witch’s greatest ally, and in return, we should show it the respect it so much deserves. Just as The Countryside Code encourages people to leave no trace, respect wildlife and be mindful of the land and those who live on it, so can we honour nature by reciprocating her kindness. One of the biggest lessons I learned from (my favourite book) Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass was:

“Action on behalf of life transforms. Because the relationship between self and the world is reciprocal, it is not a question of first getting enlightened or saved and then acting. As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.”

Some general rules of thumb: if you’re working in nature, don’t disturb habitats or leave offerings that aren’t biodegradable (no resin, metal, glass or plastic/polyester ribbons, cloths or clooties, please!). Listen to the warning cries of animals, be careful with naked flames, don’t try to pick up wildlife for a photo and be careful of whose land you find yourself on. Tread lightly and remember that nature is not just a resource or (the dreaded term) “natural capital” - it’s a sacred space.

3. Express your gratitude

Not just to the Earth but to any deity you may be working with. When we express gratitude, that wonderful Threefold Law gives us a shining thumbs up. But there’s more to gratitude than personal gain.

Gratitude is a powerful form of magick - it makes the world go round and it acknowledges that we are also a part of this world. When we take anything from the earth - whether it’s herbs, water or wisdom - it is important to offer thanks in return to reset the balance, show respect and to encourage Mother Earth to continue with that particular cycle. This could be as simple as whispering your gratitude, leaving an appropriate offering or giving back in some other way, such as by planting new seeds where we have harvested flowers. Our gratitude lets the world know that we are working with it rather than against it.

If you want to work with a particular goddess or god, you need to put the work in! Offerings, rituals, alignment - don’t go skimping and never take their goodwill for granted. Think about how you can work harmoniously and fairly with everything - spiritual or physical - around you. Magick flows better when you approach it with respect rather than expectation.

Thank you, World, for these frosty mornings.

4. Do not gatekeep

I recently read

Enchanted Empowerment

’s post “Gatekeeping is for Gardens, Not Witchcraft” and it was a great reminder that magick is not a secret - it’s a gift.

Witchcraft has always been about knowledge-sharing, with charms and spells being passed down in an oral tradition over the centuries - from mother to daughter and wise woman to apprentice. As witchcraft has boomed in the past six or seven years, I’ve seen a mixture of attitudes from seasoned witches, from open arms to disdain. In my eyes, the growing movement of those practising positive magick is a sign of people living authentic lives, freedom, a return to nature and the idea of raising the planet’s vibration. In my eyes, this can only be a good thing and I think it’s incredibly important to support new witches on their journey by providing heartfelt and accurate information about witchcraft. This is my call to you to share wisdom, uplift others and remember that we all started by lighting candles in our bedrooms and getting wax on the carpet! Those who exclude others, refuse to share and are downright rude to new witches are just protecting their own ego.

However, while energy is universal, certain magickal practices are closed and protected by the people who practice them. Some traditions - such as Hoodoo, particular Indigenous ceremonies and native ritual plants - belong inherently to specific cultures and communities. It’s important to learn the difference between appreciation and appropriation and to respect the boundaries of practices that aren’t ours to claim. Read more about this in Megan Goodwin’s excellent Medium article.

5. Never take too much

Similar to point number two, this one is all about making sure nature has enough to survive.

Foraging to collect herbs, plants and foliage is a huge part of the green witch path, but also of many Pagan practices. Saying this, it’s important to never take too much from nature. Try to collect branches that have already fallen to the ground and take plants from patches that have an abundance growing there. I would also advise against collecting any rare or endangered plants (for example, bluebells are protected by law in the UK so no digging up your local patch to add them to your altar come April/May!). This is something I talk about all the time and can’t stress enough - I even spoke to The Daily Star about it! If you are foraging, I would suggest never taking more than 10-20% of the plant you need, and certainly never taking extra just for an aesthetic picture: there are animals and insects that rely on these plants to live in an already harsh world. If you are looking for the foliage of a specific tree and can’t find any fallen branches, always remember to ask the tree’s permission before you snip some leaves (and listen honestly to its reply).

There is plenty of advice I could give to witches new and old but I feel very strongly about these five points if we are to work together in a harmonious magickal space.

Happy magick-making, my lovely. If you take anything from this post, I believe it should be the final line of The Wiccan Rede:

And it harm none, do as ye will.

Thank you so much for reading! Let me know if there are any rules you follow within your personal craft - I’d love to hear them.

Have a wonderful week.

Blessed be,

Jennifer x